Strip of severable reinforcing tabs for loose-leaf sheets



March 9, 1948. Q HED 5 2,437,640

REINFORCING "I'ABS'FOR LOOSE-LEAF SHEETS Filed Nov. 17, 1944 Dir/enter a22 .4.

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WW Em 1 Patented Mar. 9, 1948 STRIP OF SEVERABLE REINFORCING TABS FORLOOSE-LEAF SHEETS Charles E. Hedrick, Sn, Alexandria, Va.

\ Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,873

This invention relates to novel and improved reinforcing collars andso-called tabs such as are used in marginal reinforcement of assemblingring holes in loose leaves such as are used in record books, specialindices and the like.

It-is a matter of common knowledge that looseleaf reinforcing tabs aregenerally in the form of endless rings stamped or cut out from gummedsheet material such as fabric, paper, leather or the like, such tabsbeing individually and loosely packed in small boxes and equivalentcontainers. Efforts have been made to overcome the objections andnuisances attending the manufacture and sale of these types of ringtabs. For example, in a patent to R. A. Maish there is shown areinforcing tab construction (see Patent 1,869,395 of August 2, 1932) ofa special type. Here the reinforcing tabs are cut from a sheet of fabricto define a strip, the tabs being integrally joined together at oppositediametrically disposed portions by severable parts or webs,

The aforesaid general statement of the art to which the inventionrelates is included here inasmuch as the same idea of severable tabs isemployed, the tabs being interconnected and linked into a chain-likepattern or strip. However, and in keeping with the principles of thisinvention, instead of using endless rings or collars, I employsubstantially C-shaped collars, the free ends of the respective orsuccessive collars being connected to the intermediate body portions ofthe adjacent collars by comparatively narrow easily tearable andseverable webs, whereby to permit said collars to. be readily pinchedand disconnected one after the other for expedient use.

I desire to stress the adoption and use of a C-shaped collarindividually or in chain form to take the place of the conventionalendless ring type in that the former is susceptible of ready placementand use, this without removing the leaves or the customary metal orequivalent binder or snap-rings. It follows, therefore, that theprincipal object of the invention is in reference to a C-shaped tab orcollar of appropriate stock and texture which can be nicely slipped intoplace with its free ends or limb portions straddling the snap-ring andwith the main body portion in close proximity to said ring, whereby toprovide a tab which is virtually as strong as common ring types but iscapable of insertion and attachment with such speed and reliability asto save countless hours of time which would be lost by removing theleaves for attachment of the customary tabs.

4 Claims. (01. 206-56) Another object of the invention is to so adjoinand interlink the successive tabs that a chain strip is providedpermitting the tabs to be sold either individually or in roll form whileat the same time saving approximately twenty-five per cent material ineach of the tabs whether produced singly or in strip form.

Other features and advantages will become more readily apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying illustrative drawing.

In the drawing, wherein like numerals are employed to designate likeparts throughout the views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of one corner portion of a looseleaf showing a fragmentary portion of a binder ring and also showing theimproved C-shaped tab in place, the view also including a diagrammaticillustration of a chain of tabs to adequately bring out the expedien-cyof severance and application of said tabs.

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail section taken approximately upon theplane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary top plan view showing the rollabl'e chainstrip and detailing the specific construction of the respectivecompanion tabs or collars.

Figure 4 is an edge view of the assemblage seen in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawings by reference numerals, it will be seenthat the collar-tabs are individually or unitarily denoted by thenumerals 5. As above stated, they are of general C-shaped form inoutline or configuration, as distinguished from the usual endless ringtype. They are constructed from paper, fabric, or other suitablematerial, such as is employed in the industry. The connective and mainbody portion is denoted by the numeral 6 and the so-called free ends aredenoted by the numerals l. The central hole is indicated at 9, thisbeing approximately threequarters of a circle, The extremities of theends '1 and 8 are arcuate in cross sectional form, In fact, theseterminals may be described as sectorshaped, and when the tabs are joinedin chain form, the terminals abut the edge portions of the nextsucceeding tab. 01' this construction might be described as comprisingarcuate slits between the adjacent connected portions of the tabs. I

might state here, too, that it is not absolutely essential to slit orcut the material all the way through, since score lines may be employedin stead of slits. The central or body portion 6 of each tab isconnected to the free ends of the next adjacent tab by way of readilyseverable webs 19. It follows that the central quadrant 6 actuallyprojects into the hole 9 occupying an approximate QO-degree area of themarginal or perimeter portion thereof, as shown in Figure 3.

The weave of the cloth is such that the warp threads I! extendlongitudinally, these being intersected. hythe woof threads 12, thuspermitting the same to'run lengthwise and crosswise in a line connectingthe centers of the collars for easy severance. All that is necessary todisconnect the end collar for use is to pinch theseverableweb l9 andpull said collar out of the chain, -so-to speak. Then the collar takesthe C-shaped form indicated and is applied as brought out -in Figures 1and 2.

In Figure 1, the loose leaf is indicated at A, the usual hole at B andthe binder or snapering at C.

'It will be evident from the foregoinmas well as from the followingclaims that I predicate novcity on the reinforcing tabssinglyandcollectively. That is to say, it is within thesphere of the inventionto make thetabsin chain. or, strip form for convenience, or they maybeprecut into individual tabs if preferredrfor sale in such a state.

Also, I direct attention to the fact that. the expression -c-sha-ped isemployed advisedly-inthat .itwould appear to be Within the scope oftheinvention to use a collar of U-shaped formor any configuration whichwould be said to be of horseshoe-shaped f-orm permitting the arms-orends to readily straddle the binder snap-ring.

.-A' careful examination orconsideratlon. of the foregoing descriptionin. conjunction 'withthe invention as illustrated in the drawingswillenable the reader-to obtain-a clear understanding and .impression of thealleged features ofmerit and novelty sufficient to clarify theconstruction of the inventionas hereinafter claimed.

Minor changes in shape, size, materials andrearrangement ofparts mayberesorted to inactual practice so long as no departure is made from theinvention as claimed.

1 claim:

1. Ina tab assembly of the classxdescribeda c-shaped tab, the terminalsof the .free '-ends thereof being arcuately cut and thereforesectorshaped, a second C-shaped tab disposed ina plane with thefirst-named tab and havingits central body portion arranged sothat thesector-shaped ends of the first-named tab contact the outer marginaledge portions of said second-named tab, the portions of the end edges ofthe first-named tab adjacent the inner periphery of the latter beingconnected to the outer edge of the body portion of the second-named tabby circumferentially spaced readily severable webs.

2. In a loose leaf reinforcing tab assembly of the class described, a:JC-shape'd-tab, a second -C'-shaped tab disposed in a plane with thefirstnamed tab and having the central region of its body portion nestedbetween the ends of the firstnamed tab,-and the terminals of saidfirst-named tab contacting the outer perimeter edge portion of saidsecond-named tab and being connected to said outer perimeter edgeportion by circumferentially ,spaced readily severable webs.

'3. An article of the class described comprisingzarplurality ofreinforcing tabs for snap-ring accommodation holes in loose leaves, saidtabs be- :ing cut from a sheet to. define a strip, each tab beingin theform of a substantially C-shaped segment of a circular ring having itsends spaced apart to just permit passage of a conventional binder ringthere-between so that the tab may be applied to. a loose-leaf sheetof'paper about its binder ring hole without opening the ring or dis- 4engaging the loose leaf sheet from said ring-each .ofrallbut one of saidtabs being integrally connected at. its end edges to the outer edge ofan adjacent tab at equal distances from and at onposite sides of thetransverse center of the latter .by-a readily severable integralconnection.

4. .The combination of claim 3 including .threads runningbothlongitudinally and transversely of said strip.

CHARLES E. HEDRIK, Se.

REFERENGES CITED 'The following references are of record in'the file ofthispatent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 919,620 -McComb Apr. 27,1909943,653 .Coe Dec; 21, 1909 1,066,543 :Stillwell July- 8, 1913 1,769,395Selden July 1,1930 1,869,385 -Maish Aug. 2,11932 2,059,148 Schade Oct.2'7, 1936 ..2,272,308 Merta Feb. 10, 1942 2,349,115 Sanford May 16, 1944

